Michel Platini, one of football’s most powerful men, chose the opening day of the World Cup to publicly withdraw his support from Fifa president Sepp Blatter, declaring that the sport’s troubled governing body required a “breath of fresh air”.

The desperation to reach the Premier League, and enjoy the unprecedented financial rewards that accompany membership of English football's top flight, is forcing a number of Championship clubs to cross a "dangerous line" in paying out more in wages than they earn in revenue.

Fifa was accused on Monday night of conducting a selective investigation into allegations of widespread corruption surrounding Qatar’s successful bid to stage the 2022 World Cup – after it emerged that the official inquiry will be completed within days.